Blinded by Lust chapter 43

The way back was easier than the way there, taking less time as well. No matter how much Huo Zhanyan prayed in his heart, the surrounding scenery transformed from mountains to skyscrapers. As they reached the bottom of Wu Bie’s company building, they knew they were destined to part ways.

With a screech, the tires made a harsh sound against the ground, and the motion-sensor lights in the underground parking lot lit up. In the dark and damp parking lot, he could smell the burning rubber from the friction.

About half a minute after the motorcycle was parked, Wu Bie’s racing heart, caused by the speed, gradually calmed down. He patted the arm that was wrapped around his waist.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let go, you’ve had your fill.”

While riding, Wu Bie didn’t bother to mention it, but Huo Zhanyan didn’t seem to realize how tightly he was holding on. Even now, at their destination, he still wouldn’t let go.

Huo Zhanyan slowly released Wu Bie. He silently thought to himself: How could it be enough? It’s never enough. When they could only chat via text, he longed to voice chat. Once they could speak on the phone, he yearned to see Wu Bie’s face through video calls. Later, after video chatting, he became even more greedy and wanted to meet in person. Now that they met, and he could hold him, the craving was still insatiable. How could it be so easy to feel content?

Wu Bie’s body warmth still lingered on his arms. Huo Zhanyan couldn’t resist touching it, his head drooping as he asked softly, “Am I supposed to leave now?”

What a pointless question.

Wu Bie caught every small movement of his, speaking in a flat tone devoid of any emotion. “What else? Go back to school.”

“Wu Bie.” Huo Zhanyan clenched his wrist, his grip so tight that his skin turned pale. It was as if he had made a monumental decision. “Can I borrow your phone for a moment?”

Wu Bie figured Huo Zhanyan’s phone must have run out of battery. Without much thought, he unlocked his phone and handed it over. He watched as Huo Zhanyan quickly tapped the screen a few times, and then a short ringtone played.

It wasn’t Wu Bie’s phone that rang, but Huo Zhanyan’s.

With a triumphant smile, Huo Zhanyan waved his phone at Wu Bie. “Now I have your number.”

Wu Bie stared at him, expressionless, eyes devoid of light. Huo Zhanyan continued, “I also removed myself from your blocked list. At worst, I won’t send you messages. Just let me browse your Moments.”

To be honest, Wu Bie found blocking people quite childish. If he hadn’t been furious before, he wouldn’t have bothered. Having Huo Zhanyan on his contacts wouldn’t make much difference. Whether he messaged him or not, Wu Bie had the option to simply not reply.

Seeing that Wu Bie didn’t object, Huo Zhanyan took it as silent permission. He returned the phone and added, “Do you want the photos I just took?”

Wu Bie wanted to refuse, but Huo Zhanyan was too quick. Before Wu Bie could respond, over a dozen photos appeared in their chat.

Among all the pictures, not a single one was of the two of them together. Most were of fireworks and the cake. The only one with both of them in it was a shot of their hands holding fireworks, with their shoes visible, a picture clearly taken during the birthday celebration on the mountain.

“When did you take these without me noticing?” Wu Bie couldn’t recall when Huo Zhanyan had snapped the pictures. His stealth skills were truly impressive. “Even Yang Liwei only took five photos in space, and here you are with so many.”

All of the photos had actually been taken openly. Wu Bie had just been too distracted, rushing him constantly, so he hadn’t noticed.

“Wu Ge, do I really have to leave?” Huo Zhanyan’s voice sounded deflated, with none of the energy he’d had earlier on the mountain.

It wasn’t just that he had to leave. The messy situation between the two of them should also come to an end. Even if they met again in the future, they would no longer have any connection.

Wu Bie’s heart felt heavy. He let out a long sigh and forced a relaxed tone, raising an eyebrow at Huo Zhanyan. “What else? Get back to school, will you?”

Whether Wu Bie was genuinely relaxed or pretending, Huo Zhanyan felt uneasy. He wanted to ask if there was any chance, even the slightest, but he feared hearing an answer he didn’t want.

Seeing that it was impossible for Huo Zhanyan to leave first, Wu Bie had to take a decisive stance. He got into his car, started the engine, rolled down the window, and was about to mock Huo Zhanyan, but seeing the longing in his eyes, he felt all of his reluctance bubbling to the surface.

“I’m off.” Wu Bie licked his lips, not hesitating a moment as he hit the gas. He glanced in the rearview mirror, catching sight of Huo Zhanyan still facing him, then sighed and waved his hand, shouting, “Happy birthday!”

“Wu—”

As the car exited the parking lot, both Huo Zhanyan and his voice disappeared from Wu Bie’s range of perception. Wu Bie let out a deep breath. Out of sight, out of mind.

Without Huo Zhanyan in the way, Wu Bie quickly made it home. Just as he stepped off the elevator, Chen Xian’s door opened.

“Why are you home so late?” Chen Xian had heard the elevator and opened the door specifically to check. “I stopped by the company earlier. Your car was in the garage, but I didn’t see you. Where were you?”

Wu Bie scratched his head, trying to think of a way to brush it off. “Went downstairs to buy some cigarettes. Must have just missed you.”

“Then why are you back so late?”

Wu Bie was so frustrated that he felt like his head was going to explode. “Just eating, I ate too late.”

Chen Xian looked Wu Bie up and down, suspicious. He wasn’t sure if he was being overly sensitive, but he felt that Wu Bie was acting evasive.

Afraid that Chen Xian would ask more questions, Wu Bie quickly found an excuse and slipped through the door. “That’s it, right? If there’s nothing else, I’m tired. so I’ll head in and sleep now.”

Wu Bie ran so fast that he didn’t give Chen Xian a chance to speak. The door slammed shut with a “bang,” and it seemed like Wu Bie heard Shen Jixue’s voice.

“What’s going on? Why are you standing outside?”

Wu Bie’s heart was in his throat. Chen Xian was easy to fool, but Shen Jixue was sharp as a tack. Wu Bie feared Shen Jixue would catch on to something.

Luckily, Chen Xian said nothing more. “It’s nothing, just heard the elevator and saw that Wu Bie was back, so I came to check. Let’s go inside.”

Hearing the door next door close, Wu Bie let out a breath of relief. He kicked off his shoes, unbuttoned his shirt, and headed to the bedroom. He tossed his clothes onto the floor and grabbed a random pair of shorts before going into the bathroom.

Under the shower, Wu Bie let the water cascade over his head, covering his eyes and even making him choke a bit. It was uncomfortable, so he stepped forward.

This mess of a situation, whether he wanted to accept it or not, was already in the past. Wu Bie prided himself on being someone who could take things as they came and let go when needed. He didn’t want to dwell on it any longer—just let it be.

After his shower, Wu Bie came out in just a pair of boxers. While drying his hair, he glanced at his phone. No new messages. Huo Zhanyan had kept his promise and hadn’t disturbed him. Wu Bie hadn’t asked if Huo Zhanyan had gotten home safely, as he might have with a regular friend. Not contacting each other was their best option.

He opened his chat with Huo Zhanyan and saw all the photos Huo Zhanyan had just sent him. He looked at them several times before saving the one that captured the fireworks and their shoes.

“Ge, let me take you to the airport,” Huo Zhanting stood in front of the car, preventing Huo Zhanyan from closing the door, hugging his smallest luggage bag.

Huo Zhanyan patted her hand, signaling her to let go. “You still have class this afternoon. Driving me will take too much time. This is far enough.”

Seeing the girl still looking gloomy, Huo Zhanyan beckoned her closer and whispered in her ear, “Make sure someone helps clean my place from time to time. If you have time, check on it for me.”

Huo Zhanting was the only one in the family who knew her second brother rented an apartment in the city. She nodded eagerly. “I know. If you come back over the weekend, I’ll have it ready for you. I’ll also bring the lamp over.”

Back at the hospital, everything the man who hit him brought was carefully kept by her second brother. He wore the necklace. Things that couldn’t be taken with him, he wanted to keep in the rented apartment. Huo Zhanting never asked why her brother rented the place. She just did what he asked.

Huo Zhanyan poked her on the forehead. “Go inside. Call me if anything happens.”

The girl stubbornly insisted on watching Huo Zhanyan leave. He had no choice but to tell the driver to start the car. When the car was almost out of sight, he leaned out the window and waved goodbye.

Once back in his seat, Huo Zhanyan pulled out his phone. He wanted so badly to text Wu Bie and tell him he was leaving, but he resisted.

Wu Bie’s WeChat was pinned at the top of his chats. He clicked on his profile. Their chat background was a picture of Wu Bie, a photo Wu Bie himself hadn’t even seen.

It was taken yesterday. Huo Zhanyan had lied. All the photos he had sent to Wu Bie were taken openly, except for this one. This one was taken secretly when Wu Bie was smoking by a rock.

At that moment, the wind blew the white smoke in all directions. Wu Bie, still holding a firework in one hand, instinctively turned his head to avoid the smoke, frowning slightly.

This small movement had been captured by Huo Zhanyan, and he was obsessed with the image of the relaxed, carefree Wu Bie. He liked him so much it drove him crazy.

Huo Zhanyan’s fingers gently brushed the screen, as if afraid of startling Wu Bie, being extra careful.

Leaving like this seemed to ease things between him and Wu Bie, but in reality, he was back at square one. There was nothing between them, as if they were strangers who knew each other yet didn’t.

Wu Bie didn’t like him, but he didn’t hate him either. As time passed, he would probably forget someone named Huo Zhanyan even existed.

He couldn’t let himself fade from Wu Bie’s memory, but he also couldn’t pester him too much. Wu Bie was as straight as an arrow, and if he reached out now, it would only backfire. He needed to be patient, to hold back his impulses to contact Wu Bie.

Before boarding the plane, Huo Zhanyan took one last look at the city.

Wu Bie, we will meet again.